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SUBARU WRX Used Car Review

The WRX holds cult status in Australia thanks to its affordable marriage of all-wheel-drive traction and turbocharged power. Its reputation was also formed from the success of the Impreza WRX in the world rallying championship during the 1990s, where it became particularly famous in the hands of late Scottish rally legend Colin McRae. The fastest version is badged STI - for Subaru Tecnica International. The latest generation model, launched in 2014, dropped the Impreza part of the name.

Pros

Cons

  • Potent combination of all-wheel drive and turbo power
  • WRX STI's rapid performance
  • WRX's relatively comfortable ride
  • Great value performance package
  • Interiors lack premium feel
  • Turbo lag can affect initial throttle response
  • Understeer at faster cornering speeds
  • Notchy manual gearshift action
This is general information and should not be relied on as purchasing advice.
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Overview of the Subaru Wrx

Overview of the Subaru Wrx

The WRX holds cult status in Australia thanks to its affordable marriage of all-wheel-drive traction and turbocharged power.

Its reputation was also formed from the success of the Impreza WRX in the world rallying championship during the 1990s, where it became particularly famous in the hands of late Scottish rally legend Colin McRae.

The fastest version is badged STI - for Subaru Tecnica International.

The latest generation model, launched in 2014, dropped the Impreza part of the name.

SUBARU WRX GENERATIONS (SINCE 2000)

2000-2007

2007-2014

2014-onwards

RUNNING COSTS

Fuel Consumption

2.0L 4-cylinder turbo (WRX): 8.6 to 9.2 litres per 100km

2.5L 4-cylinder turbo (WRX STI): 10.4 to 11.2 litres per 100km

= Highly economical.

= Good economy.

= Average fuel use.

= Heavy consumption.

Servicing

SIMILAR MODELS TO SUBARU WRX

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR: SUBARU WRX (2014-2017)

As with any other Subaru, the engines in these cars were extremely reliable provided they got the correct servicing and maintenance.

Dirty oil as a result of skipped services is the main offender and any Subaru engine with a ticking noise in the engine has already suffered. And the damage will eventually be terminal.

The CVT fitted to the WRX caused a few headaches for some owners who reported that the thing was very slow to select gears when taking it out of Park. Subaru dealers were able to reflash the computer to fix this, but even then some reports of the car returning to its old ways over time have surfaced.

A couple of recalls to be aware of: Subaru recalled the WRX to check for cracks in the intake manifold. If these occur, they can lead to a loss of engine power and can make the car stall.

The other recall concerned cars with the optional Harman Kardon sound system. In those vehicles, the subwoofer could overheat sufficiently to actually start a fire. Hottest 100 indeed.

A Subaru dealer will be able to identify affected vehicles and whether they've been fixed or not.